Month: September 2007

bags, craft, sewing

Laptop sleeve

Yes, hubby, I’ve made a sleeve for your laptop!

An appropriate fabric choice for a computer, I think!  It’s a company laptop – do you think that I can claim the fabric and materials as a tax deduction?

There is a layer of wadding inbetween the outer fabric and the lining.  The sleeve is mainly to protect the laptop from scratches in hubby’s briefcase (there are lots of other hard objects in there as well) rather than to protect it from shock etc, so it didn’t have to be too thick.  I wish I’d put the velcro closure closer to the edge of the flap – I may still move it.  Although the actual sewing was easy, coming up with my own pattern wasn’t!  It fits nice and snugly.  I experimented with the lining fabric then used it as the pattern for the outer fabric once I got the measurements right.

by thornberry
craft, fabric stash, patterns, sewing

Fabric stash additions

Okay, here are the fabrics just arrived from the USA!

I loved Miss Clare’s hip skirts so much that I have to make my own.  Shall I do the circle skirt or the pleated skirt first?

These are so pretty!  I bought a yard of each, and have no idea yet what they will become.  Clothes for Stella?  A bag?  Other craft?

No idea what I’m going to do with this one – I just liked it!

Craft destiny for these.  The numbers will become a laptop sleeve – hopefully this weekend!  Hubby is putting the pressure on (“enough tops and bags – where’s my laptop sleeve?”)

A yard of each of these as well – and 2 yards of the toile.

I really love this one!  I think that I’ll make a nice set for Stella, a top and pants from coordinating fabrics with coordinating trims – I’ve already got a pattern in mind.  Or will I make something for myself?

And there’s still another parcel winging it’s way to me . . .

by thornberry
baby, chenille, craft, sewing

Baby quilt

I’ve just completed this cot-sized quilt for my cousin’s baby, due next week.

Let’s hope that they don’t read my blog!  They are having a girl, which made it pretty easy for me since my stash is full of floral prints.  The chenille squares came from Jodie, as usual!

It’s backed with soft flannellette, and has pellon batting in the centre.  I have a few of these quilts, and use them mostly as floor mats.  The batting just makes them a little softer, and it washes well.

I really like the variety of textures in the chenille, and the beautiful soft colour combinations it provides.

I think that’s the last baby quilt for some time, thankfully – I’ve made about six now!

by thornberry
adult's clothing, patterns, sewing

Another top – Simplicity 4228

Wow, I’m really getting loads of tops made!  Instead of being paralysed by indecision about “which pattern, which fabric” I am trying to make quick decisions about both and just go for it.  These are all cheap stash fabrics (this one is from the Darn Cheap Fabrics $2 per metre table again), and are a great way to try out new designs.  This one is Simplicity 4228, view A.

It looks better on (I think):

Clare took the photos of me wearing it, so they’re from a strange angle – the height of a four year old – but they give you the idea!

I like the yoke detail with the little bit of gathering and the top-stitching.

Once again, very comfy, quite a nice fit, and easy to get on.  And quick to sew!  There does seem to be a little bit of a drag mark from the armholes to the yoke, so I’ll probably fine-tune the fit before I make another.  The pattern has a version with a short puffed sleeve, and there is a nice waistcoat/vest as well.

by thornberry
craft, crochet, fabric stash, miscellaneous, sewing

Crafty mail

With two small children online shopping for yarn and fabric is fast becoming a way of life for me!  Miss Clare is very patient though; we spent an hour in Spotlight yesterday without complaint – maybe because she’s been going to fabric shops since birth!  Miss Stella is being trained the same way.  Although I am never able to get everything that I wanted when I go there, and my closest store is such a mess!  Overcrowded with stock, really hard yakka with a pram.  I have a real love/hate relationship with the place.  Anyway, when I got home, these were waiting for me:

Scarf yarn from Bendigo Woollen Mills.  Yay!  I haven’t been crocheting for well over a week and miss it!  And there was also this box:

Fabric and a pattern from Sew Mama Sew.  I have very quickly become addicted to buying craft fabrics from the US – it’s just SO much cheaper!  I’ll show you the fabrics in a later post (children currently needing my attention) but here’s a start:

Even tied with bows, just like presents!

by thornberry
chenille, craft, sewing, tutorials

Cushions for the girls

Today’s project – a couple of cushions for the girls.  Each has their initial appliqued onto them.  One side is vintage chenille (thanks Jodie!) and the other a coordinating print.

If I’d been super-professional I’d have piped the edges – but alas, I currently have no piping in my stash!

The zips are inserted using this fantastic tutorial from house on hill road.  It gives such a nice finish!  I have inserted zips into cushions a few different ways in the past but I think that this is one of the best.

And TWO packages came in the mail today – they’re waiting to be opened.  Online shopping is very exciting!  Stay tuned …

by thornberry
adult's clothing, patterns, sewing

Built by me – Simplicity 3964

This is my first go at a Simplicity “designed by Wendy, built by you” pattern, number 3964.  I made the shortest version – it comes in top, tunic and dress lengths – and used the 3/4 sleeve option.

I think that it looks better in real life than in the photos.  It’s a little maternity-esque (you know, when people wonder “is she pregnant or is that just the fashion”) but I like that sort of style.  Possibly because I never have much of a waist to show off anyway!  Because of the very bold fabric it is difficult to see the design detail of the front inset and yokes.

I thought I’d give it a try in a cheap fabric first – I’ll do it in something plain next time to really show off the design lines.  As well as the front inset and yokes, and associated gathers, there is a back yoke, once again with the back pieces gathered on to it, and the neck binding extends into ties at the back.  I like the gathered sleeve cap (so much easier to set in nicely than a flat cap) although hubby wasn’t keen on the sleeves at all.  Overall, it’s a comfy top that will be very practical for my lifestyle (remembering that all the tops I’m planning to wear in the near future need to be loose enough to lift up to feed the baby).  It took around 4 hours to make from cutting to complete.

by thornberry
craft, embroidery, tutorials

Beaded cushions

Someone else’s craft!  My non-blogging friend Jane made these fantastic beaded cushions for each of her three girls.

We saw a similar cushion in a shop some time ago.  Jane got inspired, and designed her own!  She used Word to write each name in a large font (part of the challenge was choosing the best font) and printed it off, then traced each letter onto white cotton, leaving plenty of room around each one to applique it later.  She used a mixture of five bead colours and sewed each bead individually onto each letter.  Here’s a close-up:

Once all the beads were embroidered on, she cut each letter out and appliqued it onto the pink PVC by gluing them into place then carefully stitching the base fabric to the PVC.  The next step was to attach the cord trim around the outside, then sew the front and back together.  Turning them to the right side was a challenge, but she managed it!  The opening was slip-stitched closed after stuffing with fibrefill.  It is difficult to see in these photos but the cushions are actually pale pink, the twisted cord trim is light purple, and the beads are a mixture of pink, blue, purple and metallic.

Jane’s girls adore their cushions, quite understandably, and my daughter is pestering me (to the point of tantrum) to make one for her.

Well done Jane!  I think that you’ve done a brilliant job (especially considering that the bead embroidery alone was about two hours per letter).  You should be very proud!

by thornberry
adult's clothing, patterns, sewing

Sleeveless Simplicity 4589

Should I be a little more creative with my post titles?  Or is it better to be to the point?  I digress!  To get back to what the title of this post is all about, rather than starting on Simplicity 3964 (which is all cut out awaiting assembly) I decided to make the sleeveless version of yesterday’s top, Simplicity 4589. 

It looks quite good here, and is well constructed (if I do say so myself) but unfortunately doesn’t look quite as good on as the version with sleeves.  It’s fine with my arms on my hips, but has a bit too much armhole “gaposis” when they’re by my sides.  It will be okay to wear, but it’s a good lesson that just because a pattern has a sleeveless version, it doesn’t mean that the armhole will necessarily be cut differently to compensate for the missing sleeves.  Or maybe it’s just because I look better in tops with sleeves.  Oh goodness, I’m blithering, it’s getting late and I’d better go to bed.

Oh, the fabric is mystery cotton from Darn Cheap fabrics (that marvellous $2 per metre clearance table).

by thornberry
adult's clothing, patterns, sewing

Simplicity 4589

I made this one last night!

And for another view with my hair out of the way:

I need to work on that weird stance . . .

This is Simplicity 4589, which I have seen on a number of crafty and sewing blogs.  It was very simple and quick to make (approximately 2 hours including cutting out – it may have been a little less) and is equally easy to wear.  No hand-sewing was required.  The fabric is from the op-shop.  I still have enough left for a dress for Clare or Stella (or maybe another top for me).

It is fairly sheer and should be a fantastic summer top.  I may sew one of the other versions of this one as well.  It seems that I have finally figured out what size to make myself.  I’m not having my usual fitting problems, although that is probably also due to my lactation weight-loss and that I’ve finally figured out which styles are best on my shape.

I’m on a roll – I’ve got another lot of pattern pieces (Simplicity 3964) cut out and fabric chosen ready to go!  Watch this space.

by thornberry
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